Maybe it's All For the Best

Chapter22: Run

*IMPORTANT INFO IN THE NOTE SECTION!*

I woke the next morning warm and nestled against soft skin that smelled so delicious all I could do was inhale for a few minutes. I opened my eyes and peered at the face of the one boy I had always loved... and always would. His hair fell messily over his eyes and I wanted to reach up and brush it off.

But I couldn't.

I had to leave without disturbing him. I had to run.

"Where you going babe?" he murmured when I started to stir.

"Bathroom" I lied quickly. He smiled and kissed my head.

"Hurry back... I love you" he murmured, letting me go. I watched him fall back into a light sleep and sighed.

"I love you too. So much" I whispered.

It broke my heart to slide my body out of the bed and rummage around for my clothes. I found everything but my shirt so I stole Harry's.

Least I would always have that.

I cast one more look upon the boy I loved more than anything else and then I walked out of the apartment.

I got to the alley and apparated to Roe's apartment. I pushed open the front door and silently walked through. A few people were asleep on the couch, George was on the floor. My room was thankfully empty and I rushed to pack all my stuff.

"There you are!" I heard Roe's voice in the doorway. "Did you have a good night? Nice disappearing act by the way. Would have been more subtle if Harry hadn't disappeared at the same time" she chuckled. I didn't turn around. "Wait...What are you doing?" she finally realized my suitcase was packed and ready to go.

"Leaving" I replied in no more than a whisper.

"You still have like 5 days here?" she pointed out.

"I know. But if I don't go now, I'll never leave" I turned around, silent tears sliding down my cheeks.

"Did you and Harry fight?" she bit her lip. She looked so worried. "That boy is such an idiot, he wants you back so badly and he screws it up every time!" She exclaimed.

"No... We didn't fight" I shook my head. "He's... fighting for me, Roe and I can't, not fight him" I choked on a sob. "I have a fiancé, I have a life, I..."

"Love Harry?" she supplied when I paused for breath.

"I need to go. Tell everyone I'm sorry. I love you all... I'll be back to help you with the baby when he's born" I smiled and hugged her quickly. Her arms clamped around my waist and she held me tightly.

"Riles, you're an idiot if you think I'm letting you go" she muttered. She had me locked into place. I couldn't move. She'd always been the stronger one.

"Roe, please" I gasped, fighting against her. "Let me go, I have to go"

"No! We want you home and you want to be here!" she grunted. "I'm not letting go"

"Well then I'm sorry" I murmured.

"For?" she asked.

I kicked her shin and she yelped. Then she punched my shoulder. I bit her arm, hard, and she loosened her grip from shock.. I broke free and grabbed my bag.

"I'm sorry" I apologized before cracking out of sight.

I pushed through the crowd of people in the ministry and approached Earl the gate keeper.

"Harry's not in today lass" he said as he took my wand.

"I know. I'm here to get a port key to New York" I said in a dull voice. I ran a hand through my messy hair and winced, wondering what my appearance actually looked like.

"Right well... Go right at the fountain. Port keys are this floor. Have a good day miss Riley" He looked slightly uncomfortable and maybe a little sad.

"Thank you... And if my family or Harry or anyone comes looking for me, you haven't seen me ok?" I said seriously.

"I'll do my best Miss" he nodded and tipped his hat. I flashed a quick smile and then walked away.

I followed the directions quickly, avoiding the early morning ministry traffic.

"Riley? What are you doing here love?" someone called my name. I turned and saw Arthur Weasley smiling kindly at me. My gut wrenched.

"Arthur... I... I'm sorry" I stammered before running away from him.

"RILEY!" He sounded a little bewildered but I didn't go back. I just continued going until I saw the PORT KEY sign. I stepped up to the desk, my heart racing.

"I need a port key to New York City... It's urgent" I told the witch. She looked up at me with a bored expression.

"New York City or New Haven?" She asked.

"Haven" I said quickly. From Haven I could apparate to my apartment.

The woman nodded and bustled around behind the desk. I tapped my feet impatiently.

"15 Galleons please" She held out her hand. I sighed and dug through my suitcase for the money. I handed it over and she placed a banana on the counter in front of me. "Would you like this as a return Port Key?"

"No" I said with a quick shake of my head. "I can't come back"

"Suit yourself, love" She shrugged. "Please head to the Port Key zone and hold onto your port key. Have a safe trip" She waved her hand to somewhere behind me and then went back to her magazine. I picked up the banana gingerly between two fingers and took it to the Port Key Zone.

I placed it on the floor, took a deep breath and placed my palm around the smooth surface. The feeling of being sucked into a wind funnel engulfed me as I was transported from London to New York. I landed with a thump in the Port Key zone in New Haven.

"I hope you have had a pleasant trip between Zones. New Haven Ministry welcomes you" A disembodied voice greeted me.

I picked myself up, grabbed the handle on my suitcase and apparated on the spot.

I landed in my living room, making Katie shriek like a little girl.

"HOLY MOTHER OF FUCKING GOD RILEY VANDERBILT! DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!" She shrieked when she realised it was me. She jumped to her feet and hugged me tightly. "You're home early! I would have come pick you up from the airport!" She smiled happily.

"I took a port key" I shrugged, brushing some hair off my face. Katie stepped back and took a critical look at me. I must have looked like shit because it showed on her face. She looked horrified.

"Did you go out last night... and is that a man's shirt?" She fingered the collar of the shirt I stole from Harry. I waved her away and made for my room.

"I don't want to talk about it" I said over my shoulder, stripping off the shirt as I went.

"Riley, what the hell?" She followed me. "You don't want to talk about it? What's it? What the hell happened?"

"Nothing" I answered.

"Nothing? You're home five days early, you're wearing a combination of last nights clothes AND a guys shirt and you look like you're about to cry..." She leant against my doorway and folded her arms. "I think I, as your best friend, deserve an explanation"

"I..." I bit my lip and held a towel up to my body. "I'm back in New York, because if I had stayed any longer at home, I wouldn't have come back" I felt my lip tremble. "Remember when I told you about Harry? And I said that he gave no reason when he broke up with me, other than I was a liability that he didn't want anymore?" I swallowed as she nodded. "Turns out, he lied" I ran a hand through my hair and laughed. It sounded dull and hollow...kind of like I felt. "It was my parents idea for him to lie to me, to keep me safe. If the Death Eaters had found out about us breaking up and had captured me, I could honestly say he didn't care... he... still loves me and... I just don't know what to do" I sank to my knees and choked on a sob.

Katie rushed forward and engulfed me in a hug. "Oh honey... You still love him don't you?" She stroked my hair and held me closer to her.

"I love him but I love Nate as well... but... I feel so guilty because I think I love Harry more" I sniffled, snotting on her shirt a bit.

"Maybe the reason why you think you love Harry is because you haven't seen him in so long and you missed Nate?" She suggested. I wanted to argue with her, say she was wrong... but it was just easier to lie and agree.

"Yeah. That's why I'm home early" I nodded numbly. "I slept with him, Katie... I slept with Harry" I choked on a sob again.

"Oh Riley, you didn't?" She brushed some hair off my forehead.

"I did... it was a party, and it was dark and he was just... there" I exclaimed. "He said he was going to fight for me... he said that if there was even a sliver of a chance that I still loved him he was going to hold onto that and fight for me"

"But you love Nate, yes?" She pushed me away from her and wiped my eyes.

"Yes, of course" I nodded, blinking slightly at her.

"Well then, this stays our little secret and no one has to know" She smiled brightly. "It was a one-time thing, bought on by old emotions of being back in England. Now that you're back home where you belong, those feelings will fade. It's simple psychology... repression or... suppression or something" She waved a hand and stood. She pulled me to my feet.

"I'm pretty sure the defence mechanism you're looking for is displacement" I murmured.

"Right. That's the one... anyway, you are going to go in the shower. You're going to get cleaned up and then you're going to go surprise Nate on set" She ordered. "No more thinking about Harry. He's your past... Nate is your now and your future" Katie shoved me a little into the bathroom and started to close the door.

"Katie..." I said before the door swung shut.

"Yeah?" She stuck her head back in the door.

I paused, deliberating what to say. I needed to tell her that Harry wasn't just my past, that I loved him more than anything.

But I chickened out. "I told Seamus about you... he's gonna come visit me soon" I felt my face crack into a cheeky smile, but I didn't feel it. It was just automatic.

"Oh you're a doll!" She squealed before the door swung shut.

As soon as it was shut the smile slid off my face and I turned the hot water onto full. I didn't want to be here, but I had to be. I was doing the right thing...

But was it the right thing for me?

Plea's Note:

I'm so sorry this is so late... the bulk of the uni work is out of the way, but it left me with such awful writers black that I was ready to kick my laptop and throw it out of the window. But I've persevered and this is what's happening... We're almost at the end of Riley's tale, and almost at the end of The Vanderbilt sisters trilogy!

Anyway IMPORTANT INFO: I have MSN, AIM and TWITTER for anyone wanting to follow, talk, chat with me! AIM: pleaofinsanityhp, MSN: pleaofinsanity hotmail . co . uk... and TWITTER: twitter . com / pleaofinsanityy

Let's chat people!

Xo Plea